The big question facing the Tigers as they squared off against in-state rival Fairleigh Dickinson was the status of Tosan Evbuomwan, their most reliable front court player. Tosan missed Princeton’s last outing a loss at Monmouth on Thanksgiving Eve, due to injury. His presence might have spelled the difference in a winnable game lost in the final 10 minutes of play.
Henderson had scouted FDU, who came into Jadwin having lost all four of their starts this season. His conclusion was that his team would have to play very well, and certainly better than it had in West Long Branch, if it was to succeed against a gritty FDU squad.
Evbuomwan was able to play and, in fact, turned in one of his better performances tonight. As it turned out the Tigers needed career scoring highs from three players, including Evbuomwan, to hold off FDU, 89-79, in a very exciting college basketball game.
The player of the game for the Tigers was Ethan Wright, the 6’4” guard and rebounding machine. Wright poured in seven threes on his way to a career-best 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, both game-high totals, giving him his third double-double of the season. Wright explained after the game that the coaching staff and his teammates urge him to let it fly which gives him a huge confidence boost. Good shooters are taught to leave their conscience in the locker room, something that Wright does easily.
Asked to comment on his uncanny knack for gaining position to get rebounds against players frequently bigger and heavier than he is, Wright modestly gave the credit to teammates whose job is to box out the big men, thereby creating opportunities for him. Coach Mitch Henderson knows that Wright’s skill is something special. He commented after the game that he hopes people will come out to see the Tigers play just to watch Wright grab rebounds.
The Tigers now have four players in the top 16 scorers in the Ivy League. Wright is the team leader at 15.3, followed by Jaelin Llewellyn (14.3), Ryan Langborg (11.7) and Tosan (11.5).
Langborg (18) and Evbuomwan (19) joined Wright in notching career highs. Jaelin Llewellyn (15) gave the Tigers a quartet in double figures.
The game itself turned into a three-point shootout. Princeton started well, at one point cruising to a 12-point lead in the first half, following back-to-back Wright threes, 20-8. Six minutes later, Langborg and Wright hit from deep extending the lead to 15. The Knights refused to fold. Gathering themselves the visitors went on a 12-0 run to grab the game momentum and close within two at the half, 38-36. Brandon Rush, the FDU playmaker, was difficult for the Tigers to contain, especially from beyond the arc. His shooting, along with teammates Devon Dunn and Sébastien Lamaute, gave the Tigers fits.
In the second half Princeton stepped up its offense and assigned Llewellyn to guard Rush. The Knights pulled even at 44-44 early in the half.
Wright then took over the game.
He exploded for 13 points in about three and a half minutes, giving the Tigers a seven-point lead, 58-51. Meanwhile, Llewellyn was hounding the red-hot Rush, holding him without a three pointer in the second half.
With about 10 minutes remaining, Rush drove to score on an amazing gymnastic move to the basket. Unfortunately, he landed on the foot of another player, causing a sprain to his left ankle and sending him to the bench.
Losing their star had an obvious deflating effect on the Knights. A Langborg three-pointer sparked an 8-0 Tiger run, capped by an Evbuomwan layup. With seven minutes to play, the Tigers led, 70-55.
Princeton scored 51 points in the second period. The game was played at a furious pace until Rush was forced to leave. His five threes and 27 points kept his team in the game. As a team the Knights shot 13-for-24 from beyond the arc. Henderson observed later that FDU played better in both halves tonight than in any of its previous outings.
While obviously pleased to get a win, Henderson challenged his team, suggesting forcefully that they must get better if they are to compete successfully. He believes that Evbuomwan will continue to improve. The coach pointed to the coming trip to Hempstead to play Hofstra as a chance for his team to step up. Hofstra pretty much had its way against the Tigers in Jadwin two years ago. The Tiger skipper knows that playing Hofstra on the road will be a huge challenge.
Career high scoring marks for three players was amazing to see. The fact that the Tigers needed these efforts to beat a winless team is a warning sign which Henderson hopes his team will grab the close attention of his players.
The Hofstra game will be available on FloHoops streaming service at 7 p.m. Princeton returns to Jadwin Saturday at 4 p.m. to play Drexel.